News – Mountain Pacific Curling Association

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2018 Summer Wrap-up: Highlights!

September 4, 2018 / Sonia Montero / Comments Off

It has been quite an active summer for member clubs in the MoPac region. Bonspiels, learn-to-curls, summer leagues, clinics, outreach events – we saw them all. Here are some highlights.

Golden Gate Bonspiel 2018 Opening Ceremony

Kudos again to the San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club & the Silicon Valley Curling Club for kicking summer off with a fantastic Golden Gate Bonspiel.

Attendees, instructors & coaches at Junior Camp

Hotter than Hell Bonspiel

Cache Valley Stone Society & Coeur d’Alene Curling Club, among others, held learn-to-curl events for eager newbies. Coyotes Curling Club saw it all – they hosted the 2nd Annual AZ Junior Curling Camp (part of US Junior Curling Camps) – giving the next generation a chance to learn under the guidance of USCA certified instructors and coaches. Their No Ice, No Broom, No Problem Shuffleboard Pub Crawl was rousing fun and the Hotter Than Hell Bonspiel at Coyotes Curling Club also brought old and new friends together for a fun spiel in the dessert.

And speaking of heat, Hollywood Curling sizzled with events – hosting the largest bonspiel in the region as well as opening a third location in the Los Angeles area. (See the full story here.)

Boise Curling Club enjoyed a summer party and managed to bring the floor curl out into the sunshine. Utah Olympic Oval Curling Club‘s rink got an update to its chilling equipment in anticipation of a busy season. Curl San Diego enjoyed success at the Blockbuster Megaspiel and began planning its Fall activities in July!

Las Vegas Curling Club kept it cool with new scoreboards and a summer league that included ‘The Accelerator’ in their Summer League finals – sounds impressive. Granite Curling Club of California shared the love of curling in Riverside, California and collaborated with instruction on the basics of preparing arena ice for curling sessions. Salt Lake Magazine – Best of the Beehive Edition voted Park City Curling Club the best sports club to join for post-Olympic fever. And Silicon Valley Curling Club practiced their broomstacking skills and even took in a bit of lawn bowling. Woah! Orange County Curling Club hosted the Rock the Derby Mini Cashspiel – complete with bowties, fedoras and frilly hats.

Horses await their jockeys at Rock the Derby

Rounding out the summer season, Wine Country Curling Club & the San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club hosted the NorCal Curling Clinic.

NorCal Curling Clinic debriefing

The Crush 2018 Opening Ceremony

Wine County also got busy with the famed Crush Bonspiel as the final summer hoorah. Nice job to all the Clubs. Thanks also to all the clubs for their photos. Now on to Fall 2018!!

Summer 2018 Wrap-up: Hollywood Curling Sets a Record

August 14, 2018 / Sonia Montero / Comments Off

If you look online for things to do in the Los Angeles area you will see famous attractions such as Rodeo Drive, Pink’s and the Hollywood sign but there is also great curling to be had with the folks at Hollywood Curling.

The Club which has been in existence since 2007 boasts a growing presence in the greater Los Angeles area. As with many curling clubs in the US, Hollywood Curling saw an increase in community interest after the men’s US gold medal performance. “We spiked from 70 members in January to 152 members in July” says Club President Liza Beres. “We are also celebrating the tenth year of our annual bonspiel” And celebrate they did.

The 2018 Summer Blockbuster Megaspiel held this past July broke records as the largest spiel in California’s and MoPac Curling Association’s histories. With a record-breaking 56 teams curling on two different rinks the event took over their Ice Station Valencia rink location. Despite the 117 degree heat the Ice Station was a respite of coolness – on and off the ice. Not only were the stands packed during the Saturday night celebrity match but the magical “bonspiel spirit” (that binds commrades-in-arms at such events) was stronger and more palpable among attendees this year.

Participants in celebrity match 2018

Blockbuster Megaspiel Awards

Such successful events cannot happen unless you have the bonspiel volunteers ready to jump into their roles. President Beres notes that this year her Bonspiel Committee out did itself – with bonspiel-seasoned volunteers knowing what needed to happen and making the significant contribution in time and positive energy. In particular, the ever-hard working ice crew was tasked with preparing and maintaining two rinks of ice during the same bonspiel. The famed ‘S.L.UT’s (Salt Lake, Utah crew) stepped up their game and were among the first to volunteer. As with any bonspiel, the ice crew is a critical part of a successful event and planning for the Megaspiel revolved around the S.L.UTs’ needs in preparing the ice. The actual ice prep began two months before the bonspiel using a laser to measure and conduct heat maps for the Zamboni to troubleshoot.

Photos courtesy of Hollywood Curling

The off-ice volunteers were just as vital. From registration to broomstacking to awards, the volunteers kept the show going strong. President Beres gives much credit to her “incredible team” including the industrious mother-daughter partnership of Debbie and Miranda Heaslip. “They make it look easy,” she says.

But how will Hollywood Curling follow up the Megaspiel next year? “We’re in talks” quips President Beres. She warns that although we may not see another 56-team event and that this year was a special anniversary/Olympics/newbie curler bonanza – we should still expect perhaps a 40 to 44-team spiel. They want to see as many curlers return as possible. “The growth of curling is changing the face of curling” No doubt Hollywood Curling will be part of the large expansion of curling in the West!

Interested in Hollywood Curling?

They currently run 4 weekly draws over 12 sheets at the Ice Station Valencia -5 sheets, Pasadena Ice Skating -4 sheets and Promenade Ice Chalet (Palos Verde) -3 sheets. Look for more info at their website:

https://www.hollywoodcurling.org/

FBF: McCall Rocktober Spiel

February 15, 2018 / BriAnna / Comments Off

The McCall Curling Club’s hosted their 13th annual Rocktoberspiel this past October. The curling tournament fielded 15 teams with players from McCall Curling Club, Boise Curling Club, Moscow, Idaho; Ogden Curling Club and Park City Curling Club, Utah; San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club, California; Missoula Curling Club, Montana; Denver Curling Club, Colorado; Spokane, Washington; and, Chaska Curling Center, Minnesota.

The bonspiel is the McCall Curling Club’s annual fundraiser. All proceeds support the local club to promote and grow the sport of curling in McCall.

The Ogden team of Charles Taggart, Eddie Rubey, Mark Rubey and Ben Womack beat the Park City, Utah team to win the A event.

The Boise team of Rob Hanson, Jared Belsher, Vince Carlson and Craig Paprocki beat the Missoula and Ogden team to win the B event.

The Chaska and Ogden team of Sapa Carlson, Steven Butler, Mike Dellos and Thora Erikson beat a McCall team to win the C event.

5 people standing holding champion's glassware

The Champions from left to right: Ben Womack skip, Mark Rubey, that me in the middle, Eddie Ruby, Charles Taggart.

The Champions from left to right: Ben Womack skip, Mark Rubey, McCall President Michele Applebee in the middle, Eddie Ruby, Charles Taggart.

#flashbackfriday #fbf #curling #goodcurling #bonspiel

2018 MoPac Playdowns Registration Information Available!

September 2, 2017 / BriAnna / Comments Off

Registration Information is available for the upcoming competitive season!

2018 USA Curling Club National Championships

MoPac Men’s Playdown: November 30, 2017 – December 3, 2017 (Evergreen CC)

MoPac Women’s Playdown: December 15-17, 2017 (Evergreen CC)

Registration period: September 6, 2017 – November 1, 2017, early registration ends October 18, 2017

Registration fees: $440 (USCA fee) + $150 (MoPac fee) = $590/team, $147.50/player

Registration link: http://leagues.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=769668

National Event: February 8-17, 2018 (Brainerd Lakes Curling Association Minnesota)

More information: http://www.mopacca.org/events/club-national/2018clubs/ OR

https://cms.teamusa.org//USA-Curling/Events/Championships-microsite/Inside-the-Championships/National-Championship-Events/2017-Club-National-Championships

2018 USA Curling Mixed National Championships

MoPac Mixed Playdown: January 5, 2018 – January 7, 2018 (Coyotes CC)

Registration period: September 6, 2017 – November 29, 2017, early registration ends November 15, 2017

Registration fees: $440 (USCA fee) + $150 (MoPac fee) = $590/team, $147.50/player

Registration link: http://leagues.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=769668

National Event: March 23-31, 2018 (Dakota CC, Minnesota)

More information: http://www.mopacca.org/events/mixed-national/2018mixed/ OR

http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Curling/Events/Championships-microsite/Inside-the-Championships/National-Championship-Events/2017-Mixed-National-Championship

2018 USA Curling U-18 National Championship

MoPac Selection Application: http://www.mopacca.org/events/junior-national-championship/2018u18/

Registration period: Applications due November 15, 2017

Registration fees: $300 (USCA fee)/team, $75/player

National Event: February 20-25, 2018 (Bemidji CC, Minnesota)

More information:

http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Curling/Events/Championships-microsite/Inside-the-Championships/National-Championship-Events/2017-U18-National-Championships

2018 Playdown Announcement

June 19, 2017 / BriAnna / Comments Off

Announcing the playdown dates for the upcoming season!

Club Nationals

Men’s Playdown: November 30 – December 3, 2017 (Evergreen CC)

Women’s Playdown: December 15-17, 2017 (Evergreen CC)

National Tournament: February 8-17, 2018 (Brainerd Lakes Curling Association, Minnesota)

Information Page: http://www.mopacca.org/events/club-national/2018clubs/

Evergreen Curling Club has a preferred rate of $79 with the Shilo Inn Beaverton, 9900 Canyon Road, Portland OR 97225. The rate includes breakfast for either a room with one king or two queen beds. Call the hotel directly at 1-503-297-2551 and ask for the ‘Evergreen Curling Club rate.’ Online reservations are not available at this time.

Mixed Nationals:

MoPac Playdown: January 5-7, 2018 (Coyotes CC)

National Tournament: March 23-31, 2018 (Location TBD)

Information Page: http://www.mopacca.org/events/mixed-national/2018mixed/

Under 18 Nationals:

Application process opening in the fall

Information Page: http://www.mopacca.org/events/junior-national-championship/2018u18/

and here is the link to the USCA championship schedule: http://www.teamusa.org/…/insid…/national-championship-events

2017 International Tankard Selections

February 22, 2017 / admin / Comments Off

The MoPac International Tankard Committee is proud to announce its representatives for the 2017 Tankard to take place at the Marpole CC in Vancouver, British Columbia, March 17-19th. Congratulations to all…and have a great time!

2017 Tankard Participants

George Lightner, Missoula Curling Club

Jared Belsher, Boise Curling Club

Ben Womack, Ogden Curling Club

Richard Cruz, Hollywood Curling

2017 Volunteer Honorees

Lesley Brownlee, Utah Olympic Oval Curling

Kevin Ryan, San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club

Lindsay Estabrooks, Coyotes Curling Club

Carl Thompson, Coyotes Curling Club

Thank you to ALL our volunteers who make our region so special and a wonderful place to curl.

MoPac Club Nationals – Draw & Updates

January 4, 2017 / BriAnna / Comments Off

Below you’ll find the link to the 2017 Club Playdowns and online updates (as long as the wifi holds)! Coyotes CC is planning to stream games as available.

http://tinyurl.com/jjluj2p

MoPac 5&U Registration

December 2, 2016 / admin / Comments Off

Registration for the MoPac 5&U opened today. Please see the 5 and Under event page for more information.

Level I & Level II Officiating Clinics in Portland

October 11, 2016 / BriAnna / Comments Off

Registration is now open for those wishing to enroll in Level I and Level II Officiating Clinics. Both clinics will be held at Evergreen CC, Dec 3-4, 2016. See below for registration information

Related to this, Evergreen CC is hosting the 2017 Senior Women’s Championship, January 26-29. Certified officials will be on hand, so it will be a great opportunity for those needing to log hours towards their officiating certifications. We’d also welcome any volunteers to help with a variety of tasks. Anyone interested in volunteering at the Senior Women’s Championship in any capacity can contact Bruce Irvin (pastpresident@evergreencurling.com).

MoPac Regional Club and Mixed National Playdown Information

October 3, 2016 / BriAnna / Comments Off

It’s October and competitive season is on the mind!

Here are the details for both the 2017 Men’s & Women’s Club Nationals and Mixed Nationals. Registration will be open on the USCA website.

Club Nationals – Men’s & Women’s

MoPac Playdown: January 5-8, 2017 @ Coyotes Curling Club
Registration Open: 10/26/16-11/23/16 via USCA registration site:

http://leagues.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=769668

Entry Fee: $150/team (region) + $440/team (USCA)
National Event: March 3-11, 2017 @ Fairbanks Curling Club

MoPac information page: http://www.mopacca.org/events/club-national/2017clubs/
USCA information page: http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Curling/Events/Championships-microsite/Inside-the-Championships/National-Championship-Events/2017-Club-National-Championships

Mixed Nationals

Mopac Playdown: February 10-12, 2017 @ Evergreen Curling Club
Registration Open: 12/7/2016 – 1/11/2017 via the USCA registration site http://leagues.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=769668
Entry Fee: $150/team (region) + $440/team (USCA)
National Event: March 24 – April 1, 2017 @ TBD

MoPac information page: http://www.mopacca.org/events/mixed-national/2017mixed/
USCA information page: http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Curling/Events/Championships-microsite/Inside-the-Championships/National-Championship-Events/2017-Mixed-Doubles-Championship

Cheat sheet for National Championship Events: 2016-17-championship-events-at-a-glance

Mountain Pacific Curling Association

Go West. Curl West.